Ask the headhunter

J.C. asks:

As general manager of a business line, I hold profit and loss responsibility for a product line with 900 million dollars in revenue and nearly 500 employees. A great job, certainly, but due to the changes underway at my company (new CEO, new culture and an approaching reorganization), I’ve actively started searching for new opportunities. Since roles at my level aren’t easily found, my exploration is broad and I’m open to all possibilities, including relocation.

Various options are coming up in conversations within my network. For instance, I was recently approached for a commercial and strategic role at a multinational. It was a challenging job with heavy responsibility, but when it became more concrete, I started questioning whether the position truly suited me. I concluded that I prefer working in a smaller organization, where more entrepreneurial freedom is possible. I also want an ultimate decision-making role. In my current position, I notice that the company’s scale and internal politics impede my functioning, which negatively influences my job satisfaction.

I don’t believe that every larger organization has a culture similar to my current employer’s, but unless you’re at the absolute top, you must comply. I prefer more freedom and the ability to truly make my mark on my work. What opportunities do you see for me?

The headhunter answers:

It’s good that you’ve already formed an image of your ideal role; that allows you to search more efficiently. There are enough mid-sized companies in your industry that would gladly have you at the helm. You have an outstanding CV and can boast an impressive track record of achievements. Additionally, when you moved to your current position, you showed that you can easily transition from a business line responsibility of 200 million dollars to one of 900 million.

Besides the usual activities such as tapping into your network, sharpening your Linkedin profile and contacting headhunters, you should consider showing your face at European or national platforms like Silicon Saxony, Silicon Alps Cluster or the Silicon Europe Alliance. Contacts with deep-tech investors can also be useful for finding interesting challenges and gathering new ideas. You might think of startups, but scale-ups or mid-sized chip outfits with a growth ambition may fit you even better as a next step. It would be interesting to see an overview of companies that fall within this target group and have their markets and results mapped out.

In the current geopolitical situation, many firms are struggling with disappointing results, and strong leadership, perhaps even a change in leadership, is desired. I think this is the right moment to demonstrate what your entrepreneurship and vision can achieve.